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X HE COMING OF 
THE MAYFLOWER 



BY 

ROSAMOND KIMBALL 



^1 



i^-r^i 



INTERCHURCH WORLD MOVEMENT OF NORTH AMERICA 

SALES DEPARTMENT 
45 West iKth Street New York, N. Y. 



Re 



A full and readable narrative of the adventures 
of the Pilgrims will be found in THE 
ARGONAUTS OF FAITH, by Basil 
Mathews, (cloth $1.50, paper .75) illustrated 
in colors, and published by the Interchurch 
World Movement. Best results in use of this 
pageant can be promoted by reading such a 
book. 



Copyright, 1920, hy 

Intkrchurch World Movement 

OF North America 



OCT 30 1920 
g)CI,AG0l207 



EPISODES OF THE PAGEANT 



Episode I 
The Coming of the Pilgrims 

December 22, 1620 

Episode II 
The First Winter 

1620-1621 

Episode III 

The Return of the Mayflower 

In April, 1621 

Episode IV 

The First Town Meeting 

A few days later 

Episode V 
The First International Treaty in America 

The same day 

Episode VI 
The First Thanksgiving 

III November^ 1621 



The Setting 

A Clearing in the Forest is the setting for all but Episode IV. Al- 
though the Pilgrim settlement was really out in the open, the use of 
small cedar and pine trees at the sides and in the background will form 
an effective setting for the pageant. 

For Episode II a rough door should be placed among the trees at 
the back to suggest the Pilgrims' first cabin. When it is possible to 
have a more elaborate setting, the addition of the side of a log cabin 
with a window will add to the effectiveness of the scene. 

The camp fire may be made by placing several electric lights covered 
with red tissue paper in the midst of a pile of sticks and hemlock boughs. 
A fallen log serves for the seat back of the fire. 

In Episode IV the interior of the cabin may be made as simple as 
is desired. If it is necessary to conceal the green background, screens 
covered with brown percaline or paper painted to suggest the log walls 
may be placed in front of the trees. The spinning-wheel and settle, the 
old-fashioned table and straight-backed chairs, with a few pewter and 
old-fashioned china dishes on a shelf will give the atmosphere for the 
scene. If possible, the one rug on the floor should be homespun, other- 
wise a rag rug. Place some brass candlesticks on the table and use a 
homespun curtain to cover the doorway into the inner room. An old- 
fashioned fire-place with a kettle and crane, would, of course, add much 
to the scene. 

In Episode VI a tree trunk is placed in the center of the clearing to 
be used as the rough pulpit behind which America is concealed. Place 
some pine boughs on either side of the stump to completely hide her. 

The scenery should be so planned that it can be changed within two 
or three minutes, in order that the episodes may follow each other in 
quick succession, with no intermissions. 



Music 

Episode I : Indian dance music. 

Selection may be made from any collection of Indian ceremonial 

dances, or from the following.' 
Melodic Vieivs of Indian Life, by Horace Alden Miller. 
Navajo War Dance, by Arthur Farwell. 
Traditional Songs of the Zuni Indians, by Carlos Trayer. 

These include the "Festive Sun Dance" of the Zunis and 
"The Coming of Montezuma," with drum vaville. 
Dawn music to accompany appearance of the Guardian Spirit, 
Liberty, in Episode I and III, may be the first part of the Over- 
ture to William Tell. 

Episode II : Storm music for dance of the Spirits of the Wind and the 
Tempest may be the second part of the Overture to William Tell. 
There should be soft music played between the changing of the 
scenes. 



* Published by G. Schirmer, 3 East 43d Street, New York City, 

5 



Characters of the Pageant 

The Spirit of the Past, a young girl 

The Spirit of the Wilderness, a yoimg girl 

The Guardian Spirit of the Pilgrims, Liberty, a beautiful maiden 

The Spirits of the Wind, from three to six young girls 

The Spirits of the Storm, from three to six young girls 

The Spirit of America, a beautiful zvoman 

The Maidens of Light, from six to tivelve in number 

Governor Carver 

Governor Bradford, ivho succeeds hint 

Elder Brewster 

Captain Miles Standish 

Mr. Winslow 

Dr. Fuller 

John Alden 

John Howl and 

Love Brewster, a boy of eight years 

Wrastling Brewster, a boy of six years 

Bartholomew Ai>lerton (called Bartle), a boy of thirteen years 

M istress Brewster 

Mistress Carver 

Priscilla Mullines 

Elizabeth Tillie 

A Sailor 

Samoset 

Massasoit, Chief of the Wampanoags 

TiSQUANTUM 

Twelve Pilgrim men 

I'ilgrim women and children 

If a small group is desired, six women, (wo children and two infants, 
little Perigrine White and Oceanus, are all that are necessary. But 
as many as twenty-four women and children may be in this group, 
inasmuch as there were fifty-three Pilgrims left after the mortality 
of the first winter. 

Six or more Indians 



Costumes 

The Spirit of the Past — A soft purple robe with long, flowing 
sleeves, over which is worn a short Grecian tunic of a light shade of lav- 
ender. A fillet of laurel leaves is bound about her brow, and in her hand 
she carries a victory palm or a spray of laurel. 

The Spirit of the Wilderness — A short, fawn-colored tunic, Hke 
that of an Indian maiden. A dull red band with ragged edges hangs 
across her breast from the left shoulder. A blue-green flowing robe hangs 
in long streamers at her back. There is a border of leaves on her skirt. 
Garlands of grape vines with clusters of grapes hang from her shoulders 
about her arms and in her hair. She wears an Indian head-dress of bright 
feathers, and moccasins on her feet. 

The Guardian Spirit of the Pilgrims, Liberty — A soft, flowing 
robe of white with a golden girdle and golden bands bound across her 
breast from each shoulder, LIBERTY is written in letters of gold upon 
her coronet. 

The Spirits of the Wind — Filmy gray robes, with long gray, veil- 
like streamers covering heads, faces, and arms. 

The Spirits of the Storm — White robes with long, black, veil-like 
streamers covering heads, faces, and arms. 

The Spirit of America — A white robe with red and white stripes 
across her breast. She wears a coronet which may be made by pasting 
stars with their blue background cut from a crepe paper flag upon card- 
board. The red and white part of the flag may be draped across her 
breast from the right shoulder under the left arm. 

The Maidens of Light — Soft rainbow colored robes with flowing 
sleeves. Gold bands about their hair. 

Pilgrims — ^The men wear the Puritan costume of knee breeches, full 
capes, and broad brimmed hats. The women wear the Puritan gray 
dresses with white kerchiefs and cufifs and little Puritan caps. The 
children are dressed much like their elders. 

Captain Standish may wear armor, a morion, or military hat, and 
a sword. Governor Carver should wear armor when he meets Massasoit. 
Steel corselets may be made of large pieces of pasteboard painted gray or 
with silver paint and fastened together by strips over the shoulders and 
at the sides. If possible, some real armor rented from a costumer will be 
better. Wooden swords painted steel color are very effective. They are 
worn at the side, stuck through the leather belt. 

A Sailor — He wears a red handkerchief, pirate fashion, about his 
head, brass earrings, a short-sleeved blouse, knee breeches, no shoes or 
stockings. 



EPISODE I 

The Coming of the Pilgrims 

The audience rises and sings the following hymn*: 

O God, Beneath Thy Guiding Hand 
Tune: Duke Street 
O God, beneath thy guiding hand, 

Our exiled fathers crossed the sea ; 
And when they trod the wintry strand, 

With prayer and psalm they worshiped thee. 

Thou heard'st, well pleased, the song, the prayer: 
Thy blessing came ; and still its power 

Shall onward, through all ages, bear 
The memory of that holy hour. 

Laws, freedom, truth, and faith in God 
Came with those exiles o'er the waves; 

And where their pilgrim feet have trod, 
The God they trusted guards their graves. 

And here thy name, O God of love. 
Their children's children shall adore. 

Till these eternal hills remove. 

And spring adorns the earth no more. 

At the close of the hymn, the Spirit of the Past ascends the steps in 
front of the curtain. 

Prologue 
Spirit of the Past: 

We meet to celebrate the day our fathers crossed the sea, 
Blazing through the wilderness a path of liberty, 
Which multitudes of pilgrim feet through centuries have trod, 
Guarding safe their sacred trust — freedom to worship God. 

The wild young Spirit of the Wilderness, you first shall see 
Joining her Indian sons in dance and revelry. 
But hark ! Upon the savage company there breaks a song 
Heralding far down the forest aisles, the Pilgrim throng. 



' This hymn may be found in Hymnal for American Youth, published by Thie 
Century Company, and in many denominational hymnals, 



Then comes their Guardian Spirit, Liberty, in garments bright, 
The Spirit of the Wilderness steals forth to greet the Light. 
She parts the curtains and witbdrazvs. 



SCENE: A Clearing in the Forest. 
The figure of a maiden, the Spirit of the JVildcrness, is dimly seen 
moving mnong the trees at the back.^ She peeps out, then suddenly 
darts into the open. She leaps across the field with deerlike hounds, 
her hair flying, her robe floating out behind. At length she pauses 
hi the middle of the stage, flinging her wild, young arms above her 
head. 

Spirit of the Wilderness : 

Hail, harvest moon and flashing stars ! 
Hail, yellow fields of Indian corn ! 
Hail, clustering grapes and crimson fruit ! 
Hail, forests, down whose shady aisles 
The deer and partridge take their way. 
Hail, mighty rivers with thy hosts 
Of darting salmon, silver trout, 
Hail, silent lakes among the hills, 
Whose age-long sleeping shadowy shores 
Teem with the furry forest folk. 
Hail, mighty ocean, thundering on my rocks ! 
All hail. Great Spirit ! Thou hast given all ! 
She lifts her arms in barbaric worship and bows to the ground. 
Ho ! dusky children of the wilderness ! 
Then puts her hands to her month in a unld call. 
Yo ! ho ! 0-0-0 ! 

The Spirit of thy vast, wild open spaces calls, 
Yo!Ho-o-o ! 

The gaunt figure of an Indian chief silently stalks out of the forest on the 
left. He moves stealthily among the shadows of the trees, then beckons. 
Other Indian figures steal out of the shadows. They beckon to others. The 
Indians begin to glide in and out. Suddenly the chief gives a whoop and 
begins to beat time upon a rude drum. The Indians crouch and beat time 
with their feet, as they begin to move in an Indian dance.- The drum beats 
faster, the Indians begin to yell and whoop as the dance grows wilder. 

The Spirit of the Wilderness stands on the right, waving her arms 
and radiant in her barbaric beauty as she sways ivith the rhythm of 
the wild music. Suddenly she stands rigid, listening, then leafs 
forward, one artn upraised in warning. 



' Appropriate music should accompany her entrance, and cease when She speaks. 
2 See "Music," page 5. 

9 



The Spirit of the Wilderness: Hark! 

The Indians stand as if turned to stone. Voices are heard in the distance 
singing a hymn. The Indians steal noiselessly away into the forest on the 
left. 

The Spirit pauses in flight to listen in zconder and ard'e as the hyfmi 
grows louder. 

Pilgrim Voices: 

O God Our Help In Ages Past' 

Tune : St. Anne. 

O God, our help in ages past, 

Our hope for years to come, 

Our shelter from the stormy blast, 

And our eternal home. 

A band of Pilgrims enters during the singing of the second stanza. 

Under the shadow of thy throne 

Thy saints have dwelt secure. 

Sufficient is thine arm alone, 

And our defense is sure. 

During the singing of the third and last stanzas the Pilgrims pass 

across the clearing and pause when the leader has reached the left 

side of the Held. 

Before the hills in order stood, 

Or earth received her frame, 

From everlasting thou art God, 

To endless years the same. 

O God, our help in ages past, 

Our hope for years to come. 

Be thou our guide while life shall last. 

And our eternal home. 

The pilgrims walk in their customary order : the men first, three abreast, 
each with his gun or "matchlock" on his shoulder, then follows Governor 
Carver, with Captain Miles Standish on his left and Elder Brewster on his 
right; then Mr. Bradford and Mr. Winslow and Dr. Fuller, followed by the 
Pilgrim women leading their little children by the hand. 

As the Pilgrims cease singing, Governor Carver steps out from the grouip 
and turns to them with upraised hand. The men bow their heads, and the 
women encircle their children with their arms. The Pilgrims did not kneel 
when they prayed as it "smacked of popery." 

Gov. Carver : {Lifting his eyes to heaven in prayer) O God, who hast 

brought us over the vast and furious ocean and delivered us from 

all the perils and miseries thereof, we do give thee humble thanks 

that thou hast brought us safe to land and set our feet on the firm 

and staple earth. 

* This hymn may be found in Hymnal for American Yotitli, and in many denomina- 
tional hymnals. 

10 



And here, with thy guidance, we do covenant to set up in this wilder- 
ness the Kingdom of Christ, and a state where men shall be free to 
worship as their conscience doth dictate. So with thy help, by for- 
titude and patience, the hardships which beset us shall be overcome. 
And wilt thou, O Lord, in whom we trust, and whom we serve, guide 
us with thy hand, protect us with thy wing, and show us thy salva- 
tion iin the end, Amen. 

I The Pilgrims pass out singing again the first stanza of the hymn, or they 
I may chant the Seventy-sixth Psalm. 

As their voices are heard in the distance, the Spirit of the Wilder- 
ness steps out from the trees. She gases after the Pilgrims in breath- 
less wonder, her hand at her breast, her eyes wide zmth awe. Siid- 
denly she points toward the right. 
Spirit of the Wilderness : 

Lo, a light is breaking in the east ! 
A strange new light ! 
A shaft of light suddenly falls upon her, and soft "Dawn" music is 
heard :* 

Behold, it cometh like a spirit, 
A spirit in shining garments ! 
The Guardian Spirit of the Pilgrims enters at the farther end of the 
path of light. 
The Spirit of the Wilderness: (Taking a fezv steps toward her) 
And on thy forehead a new name is written, 
Which no man knoweth— LIBERTY ! 
Inscribed in shining characters of light ! 
Holding out her arms to her 

Come, wondrous spirit ! 
Thy feet shall rest upon my mountains, 
Thy light shall bathe my valleys ! 
The Spirit of the Wilderness 
Holds wide her arms to welcome thee ! 
As she speaks the last line, she kneels in the pathway of light, holding 
out her arms to the Guardian Spirit. 

The Curtains Are Drawn. 
Soft music is heard until the Spirit of the Past appears before the cur- 
tain to give the second prologue. 
' See "Music," page 5. 



11 



EPISODE II 

The First Winter 

Prologue. 

Spirit of the Past: {Before the curtain) 

O little band of exiles, thy fearful voyage is past, 
The border of thy promised land safe reached at last. 
Yet through the fire of trials onward thou must press. 
Strong in thy dauntless courage in a savage wilderness. 
Through famine, death, and pestilence, faith triumphs still. 
In that first winter half were laid beneath the snow-clad hill. 
See how their Guardian Angel, Liberty, doth guard 
Each step upon the path their blessed feet have trod. 
She parts the curtains and withdrazvs. 



SCENE: A Clearing in the Forest. 

Elder Brewster, his zvife, and their tzvo little sons, Wrastling and 
[Love, are seated by p, camp fire over zvhlch a kettle hangs. It is 
winter, and their cloaks arc drawn tightly about them as they huddle 
together on a rough log scat. In the background the door of the 
Pilgrims' first cabin, the C amnion House is seen. As the curtain is 
drawn. Elder Brezvster is reading the Ninety-first Psalm from a 
large Bible that is spread out upon his knees. 
Elder Brewster: "He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High 
shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. 

"I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; 
in him will I trust. 

"Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from 
the noisome pestilence." 
Love: {Interrupting and pointing toward the forest) Father! I but now 

saw the dark form of a savage on yonder hill! 
Elder Brewster : Nay, boy, the sentinel standeth ready to give the alarm 
if aught of danger threaten us, and with God's help we shall with- 
stand any attack. 
Wrastling: Hark! Methought I heard their war cry! 

A wild cry is heard far azvay. 
IMrsTRESs Brewster: {Stroking the boy's head) Nay, child, it is the 
wolves. 

12 



Elder Brewster : Peace, my sons, it is written here : 

"He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt 
thou trust : his truth shall be thy shield and buckler. 
"Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night ; nor for the arrow 
that flieth by day ; 

"Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness ; nor for the destruc- 
tion that wasteth at noonday." 

Mistress Brewster: Aye, the pestilence! More than half of our number 
stricken down ! Ah, my husband, the Lord's hand is heavy upon us ! 
Elder Brewster : We must not fear, Mary, for it is written : 

"For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy 

ways. 

"They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot 

against a stone. 

"Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the 

dragon shalt thou trample under feet. 
"Because he hath set his love upon thee, therefore will I deliver Mm : 

I will set him on high, because he hath known my name. 

"He shall call upon me and I will answer him: I will be with him in 

trouble " 

Captain Miles Standish suddenly opens the door and comes out of the 
house in haste. 

Standish : Forgive this interruption. Elder Brewster, but we are in sore 
straits ; and it hath seemed necessary to seek thy aid. Mistress Brew- 
ster, as loath as I am to break in upon thy hour of rest, — 

Mistress Brewster: {Hastily rising) Hath the fever increased? Is 
Mistress Winslow is she worse? 

Standish: Mistress Winslow is going fast. 

Mistress Brewster : I will return at once. 

Standish : Twelve more have been taken down with the fever, but Mis- 
tress Winslow and Mr. White need a nurse sorely to be with them in 
their last hours, and I dare not leave the ones that Dr. Fuller hath 
intrusted to me, who are like to fall from their beds with the tossing 
of the fever. 

Mistress Brewster : I will go to my nursing without delay. 

As she turns toward the house, IVrastling catches hold of her skirts 
and detains her. 

Wrastling: (Shivering and half-crying) I am so cold, Mother! 

Mistress Brewster: (Laying her hand anxiously upon his forehead) 
My child ! Thy temples are hot and burning ! O, my dear husband ! 
I fear the fever is coming upon him ! 

13 



Elder Brewster : Here comes Dr. Fuller ! Let him look to the child. 

Dr. Fuller, entering on the left and hurrying toward the Common 

House, pauses at Elder Brezvster's words. 
Dr. Fuller: None other of our number ill, I trust? 
Mistress Brewster : Wrastling seemeth not himself, Doctor — 
Dir, Fuller : {Laying his hand on the child's forehead and then feeling his 

pulse) Aye, he is feverish. He must be gotten to his bed at once. 

Mistress Brewster: {In great anxiety) Come, my child. 

Dr. Fuller: Mistress Priscilla Mullines, who, thou knowest, hath been 
nursing her father and mother and brother, is taken down. I have but 
come from Mr. and Mrs. Mullines in the other house, and I fear they 
will not live through till the morning ! I have placed Priscilla under 
Mistress Carver's nursing in here {Pointing to the Common House) 
lest she try to rise and go to them. 

Mistress Brewster: Alas, poor maid! 

Dr. Fuller: {Looking keenly at her as she lifts the child in her arms) 
And thou, too. Mistress Brewster, art flushed ! 

Elder Brewster: Thou art half sick thyself, dear wife, with days and 
nights of vigil. Let me take the child. {He takes Wrastling from 
her.) 

Dr. Fuller: Thou must spare thyself. Madam, else we shall have thee 
taken down with the rest. God knows we need thy help this 
night, — and yet — 

Elder Brewster: I will nurse these poor souls in thy place, wife. 

Mistress Brewster: Nay, — 

Dr. Fuller: We had best spare thee now, than later. Do as thy hus- 
band desires, Mistress Brewster, and take thy rest to-night. 

Standish : Thy husband and I will tend the sick in thy stead, Madam. 

Mistress Brewster : But thou too art worn with long vigil. Captain 
Standish. Day and night thou hast cared for the sick and dying 
as tenderly as any woman ! 

Elder Brewster: {Pausing in the doorway) Fully half our number 
therein tossing with fever and near unto death ! I wish to God 
that our house were ready, wife, for there will be scant rest for 
thee in here. 

Standish : If it had not been for the foul weather, we should have had 
other houses built ere this grievous pestilence came upon us. 

Mistress Brewster : Let us thank God that we have at least two houses 
to protect our sick and dying from the wind and furious storms. 

14 



Elder Brewster: (To Love) Bring the pot of soup, son; we must not 
let so much as a mouthful be wasted until we are assured of the 
harvest next summer. 

The three enter the Common House, foUoivcd by Miles Standish. 
Love returns to the fire and unhooks the pot. As he is carrying it to 
door, he pauses and listens. A long-drazvn-out hozvl is heard, fol- 
lozved by the soughing of the wind. 

Love : The wolves again ! And the wind is rising ! I fear there will be 
another furious storm! (Shaking his head) Father will never be 
able to get the thatch upon our new home. (He enters the house.) 

: Storm music' is heard and the Spirits of the Wind glide in and circle about in 
a dance of the winds. They are presently joined by Spirits of the Storm, 
who scatter white confetti snow-flakes as they mingle with the winds in a 
wild dance. 

Suddenly a shaft of light falls across the scene, and at the end of the pathway 
of light, the Guardian Spirit appears with one arm uplifted as she speaks. 
The Spirits of Wind and Storm stand rooted to the ground in awe. 

Guardian Spirit : 

Spirits of Wind and Tempest wild ! Lo, I am sent 

To guard these Pilgrim exiles by One whose will 

The raging wind and wave obeyed ; 

And in His name I bid thee, PEACE ! BE STILL ! 

The Spirits shrink away and vanish among the trees on either side, as the 
Guardian Spirit still stands in the shaft of light with lifted hand. Suddenly 
the light and the Guardian Spirit vanish. 

Enter John Alden, muffled in his Pilgrim cape. He knocks at the 

door of the Common House. Miles Standish opens it. 

Alden : I have brought the physic that Dr. Fuller did send for, — (Holding 

out a bottle). How is Mistress Priscilla? 

Standish : She is sore beset with the fever. 

Alden : I have but come from the other house — and her mother hath but 

now passed to her rest ! 

Standish : She must not know of it. She is in no condition for such news. 

Alden : Alas, poor maid ! It doth seem as if my heart would break for her ! 

— Is the fever very high ? 

Standish : Aye, but she hath her youth, and Mistress Carver is caring for 

her. But I must return to the others. Go take thy rest, lad, until thy 

time of nursing at midnight. (Lie re-enters the house.) 

John Alden seats himself by the dying embers of the fire and buries 

his head in his hands in an attitude of despair. Mistress Carver opens 

the door. She is carrying a large kettle. She moves down the path- 

zva\ of light shed from the open doortvay toward Alden, looking like 

an angel in her fragile beauty. Alden raises his head, then starts up. 

' See "Music," page 5. 

15 



Alden: Mistress Carver! How is Priscilla? 

Mistress Carver : She sleepeth at last, poor maid, little dreaming that ere 
the mom she will be an orphan ! 

Alden: (Eagerly) Hath the fever abated? 

Mistress Carver: (With a zvan smile) Aye, she is better, lad. Wilt stir 
up the fire, John, for now that the storm hath abated, we must have 
more hot water than the kettle within can furnish. 

Alden : I will get it for thee. Mistress Carver. 

As he is stirring the fire and hanging the kettle on the crane, Mistress 
Carver sinks dozvn upon the log and speaks in a trembling voice. 

Mistress Carver: Four more of our number have found their eternal 
rest this night, John. 

Alden : (Looking to heaven, and with a groan, as he kneels beside the 
fire) Hath God altogether forgotten us ! 

Mistress Carver: (Quickly pulling herself together upon seeing his 
despair, and speaking in ringing tones as she lays her hand upon his 
shoulder, her face suddenly alight unth faith and courage) "God 
is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore 
will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the moun- 
tains be carried into the midst of the sea." 

As she is speaking these words from the Forty-sixth Psalm, soft and solemn 
music is heard. As John Alden kneels by the fire looking up into Mjistress 
Carver's face, while she sits upon the log, her hand resting upon 'his arm, 
the Guardian Spirit silently steps out from the side and stands just behind 
the two, with her hand upraised in blessing. 

The Curtains Are Drawn. 

Soft music is heard until the Spirit of the Past appears before the cur- 
tain to give the third prologue. 



16 



EPISODE III 

The Return of the Mayflower 

Prologue 
The Spirit of the Past: {Before the curtain) 

Of lovers sweet and brave and true this scene shall tell ; 
Of Indians, too. Then how the Pilgrims bade farewell 
And sped the Mayflower with a song across the blue, 
Cutting the last link 'twixt the Old World and the New. 
She parts the curtains and zvithdraws. 



SCENE : A Clearing in the Forest. 
John Alden is chopping a fallen tree trunk. At length he pauses and 
leaning on his ax gazes out through the trees at the left. Priscilh 
softly enters on the right and stands mischievously watching him 
with dancing eyes. She gives a little laugh; he turns with a start. 
John : Priscilla! 

Priscilla: {Clapping her hands, with a laugh) Fie, John! Thou didst 
start as though I were an Indian ! 

John : {Putting his arm about her) And indeed, when a maid steals up in 
this fashion ! 

Priscilla : And tell me, why art thou gazing, so deep in thought, out 
yonder ? 

John : I am but looking at the Mayflower. {Leading her toward the left 
and pointing) See, her sails are unfurled and there is much stir on 
board, 

Priscilla: {Suddenly serious) She doth set sail to-morrow, John. 

John : Aye. 

Priscilla: And that is why I have come to thee in the midst of thy work, 
for I would fain send a letter back to my cousin at Leyden, to advise 
her of all that hath befallen since I did set sail from Holland with 
Father and Mother and brother Joseph. {Suddenly turning to him 
and looking up into his face, znnth a catch of her breath) Alas, John, 
what hath not befallen us ! All these dear ones now lie yonder on the 
hill, — and I am left in this wilderness, — alone ! 

John : {Taking both her hands and looking deep into her eyes) Nay, Pris- 
cilla, thou knowest that thou art not left alone, for God hath given 
thee to me, and when our house is ready, for which I do now fell the 

17 



logs, we shall be wed, sweetheart (Aij^ain putting his arm about her).. 
And I will care for thee so long as God doth grant me life, and be both 
husband, father, and brother to thee, all in one {Kissing her forehead 
as she rests her head upon his breast). 

Priscilla: (Clinging to him) Aye, John, I did not mean it thus. The 
Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away. And I do thank him for the 
great gift of thy love, for without it I could ill have born the burdens 
of the past year (Brushing the tears from her eyes and turning to 
hini with her accustomed smile). See! I have brought paper and the 
inkhorn, and I will hold it while thou dost write here on this log, as 
I dictate. 

John : (Seating himself and taking pen and paper) Aye, be it as thou 
wilt, sweetheart. 

Priscilla: (Seating herself beside John and dictating with an air of im- 
portance) The Settlement of New Plymouth. In the year of our 
Lord 162L — Art ready for the letter, John? 

John : Aye — 

Priscilla : My dear and honored Cousin, — 

Bartle Allerton : (Dashing in) Alden ! John Alden ! 

John: Here I am, boy; why dost thou rend the air with thy howls? 

Bartle : I did see twelve savages ! But now, as I lay in the rushes by the 
pond in the forest waiting for wild fowl, they did silently glide past 
on the opposite shore ! 

John : Savages ! Twelve savages ! (He and Priscilla start to their feet.) 

Bartle: Aye, and they were carrying bows and arrows, and their faces 

were painted black and red, and they wore feathers stuck in their hair ! 
John: Whither were they going? 
Bartle : Easterly toward the town ! 
John : We must at once give the warning ! (He snatches up his matchlock 

and takes Priscilla by the Jiand. They all hurry out leaving the ax and 

the inkhorn by the log.) 

Suddenly two savages steal into the clearing. They see the ax ; they beckon 
to others, who enter; they pick up the ax. examine it with grunts of satis- 
faction, and one sticks it in his lielt. They also examine the inkhorn and paper 
curiously, finally departin.a: with all of these trophies. 

The clearing is silent and empty for a space, until a voice is heard in the 
distance. 

Voice: Lead on, boy, and if they be about, show us these savages. 

Miles Standish, Alden, and Bartle enter, followed by several other 

men, each carrying a matchlock. 
Bartle; They did glide info the forest east of the duck pond, yonder, 

18 



Standish : Well, lead on. I would see them with mine own eyes. 

They arc passiir^ out at the other side of the clearing zvhen Alden 
stops. 

Alden : Stay ! Some one hath been here in my absence and taken my good 
ax ! 

Standish : Where didst thou leave it? 

Alden : On this log, in my haste to bring thee word. 

Standish : And left a blotch of ink in its stead ! 

Alden : Her inkhorn gone as well. I was writing for Mistress Priscilla 
when — 

Standish : Be on thy guard ! There are forms in the forest yonder! 
Alden: Savages! {.Peering through the trees) Seven or more! 
Standish: Forward, march! (They march to the edge of the clearing, 
ivhen Alden stops.) 

Alden : But now they have fled ! 

Standish : After them ! If they meditate aught of ill we will have it of 
them without delay ! ( The men march out on the double quick. After 
a moinent or tzvo they reenter the clearing.) Gone! And so long as 
these savages do no more than skulk about us, we will not be the 
aggressors. But with the first arrow, they shall see that we are ready 
for an encounter. And I do now propose that we begin to train our 
valiant army without delay. For we have nineteen men ! And with 
these and fearless hearts, we can put to flight a wilderness of savages ! 

They pass out. John Alden lingers, searching the ground. 

Alden : Her letter too is gone, and the quill ! 

A noise is Jicard in the hushes. As Alden zvheels about with leveled 
matchlock, a sailor steps into the open. 
Sailor: (Raising his hand) Stay! A friend! Why so swift to shoot, man? 
Alden : The savages have but now stolen my ax, and I did think they had 

returned for my scalp ! 
Sailor: Aye, aye, and like enough they'll get it, erelong! 
Alden: (With a laugh) Nay, Jack, thou art over gloomy with thy fore- 
boding. 
Sailor: We sail to-morrow morn, Alden, if the wind be favorable. 

Alden : Aye, I have been watching the Mayflower all day, yonder through 
the trees. It doth grieve me to see her go, but our kinsfolk and friends 
in England and Leyden will be right glad of news of us (Looking 
out toivard the ship). 

19 



Sailor: Can no one persuade you to return with us? 

Alden : Return ! Why, I do chop the logs for my cabin, man ! 

Sailor: But what doth it profit you to stay? As things have fallen out, 
naught but evil hath come to the colony. Last winter ! God preserve 
us ! None of ye can live through another like unto it ! Half are 
dead. Naught but a handful of you left ! The wilderness filled with 
savages ! Indeed, I do believe no single man of all the colony will 
stand upon yonder shore to greet the Mayflower if ever she returns 
another year ! 

Alden : (Laying his hand upon the sailor's shoulder) Peace, Jack, you'll 
find us here and prospering when you sail back. And you'll bring 
others to fill up our ranks. 

Sailor: (With a grunt) More! To die of the pestilence and starve and 
fall by the tomahawk ! 

Alden : No great thing did ever come to man without a struggle. 
Sailor: (Seating himself on the log) But what is this great thing ye are 
striving to attain? 

Alden : Freedom ! Freedom to do that which our conscience doth direct. 
Thou knowest that we did have no freedom in the Old World, where 
a man must do what the king's officer doth bid him do, or else 
languish in jail. But here I can build me a house where I may wor- 
ship God as mine own conscience doth dictate. 

Sailor: Unless the red man prevents you in the midst of it. I'd a deal 
rather sit down to a flagon of ale in a snug tavern in Merrie England, 
where I do know my scalp is safe upon my head, and let the king dic- 
tate my affairs. 

Alden : Nay, nay ! Freedom is like unto the pearl of great price, the 
greatest thing a man can struggle to attain. 

Sailor: (Rising from the log) And none of you'll come back to Merrie 
England? Not one of you'll return? 

Alden : Not one of us. We do stay here with our God, to build a temple 
of freedom here in this wilderness for our children and our children's 
children. 

Sailor: Farewell! (Holding out his hand as he rises front the log) And 
may we still find you here if the Mayflower e'er returns across the 
perils of that sea! 

Alden : Farewell, Jack ! I have letters to bring thee, and we shall all be 
upon the beach to wish you godspeed to-morrow morn. (The sailor 
departs.) 

20 



John Alden stands wrapt in thought, leaning upon his matchlock and looking 
out across the waters at the Mayflower. The Guardian Spirit appears upon 
the opposite side of the clearing from John Alden and nearer the frodt. 
Hlis back is turned to her, and he stands gazing across the waters as she 
speaks. 

Guardian Spirit: (Looking out over the audience and speaking to the 

accompaniment of soft music) 

O, little ship ! Thy God-appointed task is o'er, 

Thy precious freight safe landed on the wild, stern shore. 

Through storm and tempest thou didst bear them on, 

Thy timbers sprung, thy straining bulwarks torn. 

Till, like a storm-tossed bird thou drove at last 

Unto the shore, with wind-rent sail and shattered mast. 

O cradle of a new world's hope, when thy white sails unfurled, 

God hid within thy fragile shell the freedom of a world ! 

Now as thy parting sail fades from the Pilgrims' view. 

Beside their loved ones' graves they stand, brave hearts and true ! 

Not one returned of all that little band ! 

Not one sought safety in their native land ! 

Encompassed by the wilderness, they sing ! 

Strong and secure beneath the shadow of God's wing. 

As the Guardian Spirit ceases speaking, a chorus of voices is heard singing 
the first, second and fourth stanzas of the hynm, "O God our help in ages 
past." The Guardian Spirit raises her hand in blessing as they sing the first 
stanza. The curtain is drawn during the singing of the second stanza. And 
the last stanza is heard behind the curtain. 

A Psalm may be chanted in place of the hymn, as the Pilgrims sang Psalms 
instead of hymns. But this hymn, written by Isaac Watts a cenutry later, is 
so appropriate, that it is given at the expense of historical accuracy. The 
music continues until the next prologue. 



21 



EPISODE IV 
The First Town Meeting 

Prologue. 
The Spirit of the Past : {Before the curtain) 

"The word of the Lord by night 
To the watching Pilgrims came. 

As they sat by the seaside, 

And filled their hearts with flame. 

"God said, I am tired of kings, 

I sufifer them no more; 
Up to my ear the morning brings 

The outrage of the poor. 

"Think ye I made this ball 

A iield of havoc and war, \ 

Where tyrants great and tyrants small 

Might harry the weak and poor? 

"My angel, — his name is Freedom, — 

Choose him to be your king ; 
He shall cut pathways east and west. 

And fend you with his wing. 

"I will have never a noble. 

No lineage counted great ; 
Fishers and choppers antl ploughmen 

Shall constitute a state, 

"Go, cut down trees in the forest, 
And trim the straightest boughs; 

Cut down trees in the forest 
And build me a wooden house. 

"Call the people together. 

The young men and the sires. 
The digger in the harvest field. 

Hireling and him that hires ; 

"And here in a pine state-house 
They shall choose men to rule 

In every needful faculty, 

In church and state and school. 
22 



"I break yoar bonds and masterships, 

And I unchain the slave: 
Free be his heart and hand henceforth 

As wind and wandering wave."* 

The Spirit steps back and parts the curtains as she says: 

See now their first town meeting 
In their cabin by the sea 
Where democracy's seed was planted, 
The birthplace of liberty ! 



SCENE: The Interior of Governor Carver's House. 

Mistress Carver is sitting at her spinning-zvhccl on one side of the 

fireplace, and on the other side, John Alden is seated on the settle 

cleaning his matchlock. On the opposite side of the room Friscilla 

is rem^oving some pezvter plates from a large table and placing them 

in order upon a rough shelf. 

Priscilla: {Pausing in her ivork) Have an end to the polishing of thy 

matchlock, John, or 'twill dazzle the savages' eyes with its shining! 

John : Aye, and there may be grave need for its shining erelong ! 

Priscilla: Nay, but thou'lt have no matchlock left, if thou dost scrub 

it more. 

Mistress Carver: How many savages think you there were? 

John : 'Twas but a handful, which fled at the Captain's approach. Mayhap 

they were scouts sent by their chief to spy out the land. 

Mistress Carver: 'Tis time for the meeting which the Governor hath 

called. 

Priscilla : Aye, and the table is cleared and ready for the assembly. And 

if that lusty lad yonder can pause from the scrubbing of his hrearms 

and help move it to the center of the room — 

John: (Springing np and laying hold of the table) Where wilt thou have 

it? 

Mistress Carver: Here {Indicating the place). 

Priscilla: And Governor Carver's chair here. 

Mistress Carver: {Looking out of the windozv) Here comes Captain 

Standish and other of the men. I will call my husband. {She enters 

the adjoining room.) 

Enter Miles Standish followed by nineteen other men. Mistress Priscilla 
stands at the door, greeting them as they enter. The door at the other end 
of the room opens and Governor Carver and his wife enter. After an exchange 



' A part of "The Boston Hymn" by Ralph Waldo Emerson. 

23 



of greetings the men seat themselves about the table, stacking their gims beside 
the fireplace. Many of the Pilgrim women have followed the men to the 
meeting and stand about the sides of the room or seat themselves beside 
Mistress Carver upon the settle. 

Governor Carver: Will some one bring ink and paper for Master How- 
land, that he may inscribe the proceedings of this, our first town 
meeting, and place them thereby upon the town records of Plymouth? 
{Mistress Carver takes ivriting material from the mantel-shelf and 
hands it to John Alden, who places it before John Howland, zuho is 
seated at the Governor's left. The room is silent as the Governor 
sloivly rises.) In view of the danger from the Indians which doth 
threaten us, I have summoned the freemen of this colony, 
that we may take counsel together for our mutual defense. For inas- 
much as the Mayflower hath set sail, the Indians, thinking that we are 
now left alone in the wilderness, have been skulking about, and it is 
therefore imperative that we be prepared for a sudden attack. I shall 
first call upon Captain Miles Standish to speak to us, and then the 
meeting will be open for any who may have further suggestions to 
make. Captain Standish. 

Miles Standish : (Rising) Governor Carver and freemen of the town of 
Plymouth : Since the Indians were seen skulking in the forest close 
to the town, I have made the following preparations for an attack: 
Our arms, which have suft'ered from exposure and neglect during the 
winter when the business of constructing sufficient shelter from the 
storms and caring for our sick demanded all our effort, have been 
cleaned and put into condition for use; fresh bullets have been 
molded, and we have a good supply of ammunition in readiness ; and 
lastly, all the men who are old enough to bear arms have been re- 
solved into a military body and are being properly exercised in 
methods of defense during a daily period of training. We shall have 
a well-trained army of nineteen men. During the month before the 
sailing of the Mayflower, our fort on Burying Hill was completed 
and our five cannon mounted thereon. The two largest command the 
approaches from the forest — 

Governor Carver starts suddenly to his feet with an exclamation of horror 
as he looks past Standish toward the open door. Standish wheels about and 
confronts an Indian who is standing silently in the doorway, tall and erect, 
his three eagle fcatliers touching the ceiling, and a bow nearly as tall as 
himself in one hand. At the same moment Alden cries, "To arms!" 
There is a cry from some of the women as the men spring for their guns. 
But the Indian checks the confusion by lifting one hand above his head in 
salutation. In the tense moment of silence, his voice rings out. 

Indian : Welcome ! 

Several Voices : English ! He speaks English ! 

24 



Indian : (Advancing a fciv steps) Me Samoset. Friend of Englishmen ! 

Welcome ! 
Gov. Carver: {Extending his hand) Welcome, Samoset! 
Standish : {Grasping his matchlock) Have a care! There may be treach- 
ery! 
Indian : {Advancing towards Carver) Samoset, sachem of Mohegan 

{pointing). 
Gov. Carver : Whence came you ? Live you near at hand ? 
Samoset : No ! Mohegan nearer Sunrise. This place Patucxet. 
Gov. Carver: Patucxet! 

Samoset : Massasoit, sachem, of Wampanoags, rule here ! 
Standish: {Advancing) Massasoit? Where does he live? 
Samoset: Sowans, by setting sun {.Pointing to the ivest). Massasoit here 

now. Come to see white men! 
Standish: {Grasping his gun more firmly) Where? 
Samoset : Just beyond running water. White chief go meet him ! 
Standish: {To Gov. Carver) I fear this is treachery! 
Gov. Carver: Methinks he speaketh in good faith. 
WiNSLOw: {Stepping forzvard) Governor Carver, I will go out and meet 

this chief. 
Standish : Not so, Mr. Winslovv ! I will go. It is fitting that the danger 

be mine. 
Gov. Carver: Nay, Captain Standish! We need thee here with the colony 

till danger be past. If Mr. Winslow hath volunteered to act as our 

ambassador, we will accept his offer. 
Mr. Bradford: .Methinks it is fraught with grave peril. Should we not 

send an escort of soldiers with him? 
Samoset : Englishman safe ! Samoset friend of white man. 
Mr. Winslow : Farewell ! I will return anon ! {He departs tmth the 

Indian as all stand in silence watching them pass out of viezu.) 
Gov. Carver : Let us make ready to meet this chief with fitting ceremony. 

The Curtains Are Drawn. 

Soft Indian music is heard until the next prologue. 



25 



EPISODE V 

The First International Treaty 

Prologue. 
The Spirit of the Past: (Before the curtain) 

When Massasoit with the Pilgrims met, 
Tlie peril from the Indians and their fears 
Were turned to friendship ; and through thirty years 
This covenant of peace and faith was kept. 
(She parts the curtains.) 

At the Chief of the Wampanoags be not afraid, 
For here you shall see how in Plymouth town 
America's first International Treaty was made ! 
She withdraws. 



SCENE: A Clearing in the Forest. 

Miles Standish and a group of men arc standing outside the door of 

the Common House. 
Governor Carver: (Coming out from the house) Bring the settle from 

the house and place it here. (Two men go to do his bidding.) Hath 

seen any sign of their approach. Captain? 
Standish : No sign, and it is now well past an hour since yon wily savage 

departed into the forest with Master Winslow. 
Governor Carver: If he doth not return soon, thou and thy army shall go 

for him. 
Standish : Aye, methinks it were better had we gone in the first place ! 
Bartle: (Rushing in) I see Master Winslow surrounded by savages ap- 
proaching down the trail beyond the brook ! 
Governor Carver: All is well ! Captain Standish, do thou meet them with 

a few soldiers and give them military escort to the town. I will go 

and make ready. (He reenters the house.) 

Captain Standish selects six men, calls for drum and fife, and with a few 
sharp military orders they march out. The women and other men stand in 
groups al)out the house watching them. 

Mistress Carver: (In the doorway) The settle is not enough! We must 

bring out the rug to spread before it. 
Priscilla : Come, make haste, else they will be here before we are ready ! 

26 



She hurries into the house with two youths, and they immediately appear 
again bearing the rug. As Mistress Carver directs where they shall place it, 
the men lay it on the ground and Priscilla straig'htens the corners. 

Governor Carver : (Coming out from the house in armor and wearing his 
szi'Drd) Let six soldiers follow me toward the fort, that we may make 
a more stately approach to meet the chief when he doth arrive. 
(They pass out on the left.) 

The drum and fife are heard in the distance; the members of the colony 
draw back, grouping themselves about the doorway of the house and at the 
sides of the scene as the musicians, followed by Captain Standish and his 
guard of honor, enter on the right. The Chief, Massasoit, with Winslow by 
his side march in behind the soldiers. They are followed by Samoset and 
the other Indians, who stalk in a silent procession. The chief wears many 
strings of shell beads and a more elaborate headdress than the other Indians. 
When Standish reaches the rug before the settle, he turns and, giving the 
order, the six soldiers, marching in pairs, part and present arms, thus form- 
ing an aisle to the chair of state, down which the Chief, after a moment's 
hesitation, walks. He pauses beside the settle. 

Winslow: {To Samoset) Tell the Chief to seat himself upon the chair of 
state and let his Indian escort take their places on either side, here and 
here. 

Samoset explains this to Massasoit in his language. The Chief sits down very 
slowly on one end of the settle, while Winslow takes his stand beside him, 
with Samoset standing next and a few steps toward the front, as interpreter. 
The Indians silently group themselves on both sides of the settle. 
Another trumpet and drum are heard and Governor Carver enters on the 
left, preceded by the music and followed by his escort of six soldiers. Massa- 
soit rises with great dignity. Carver approaches the Chief and extends his 
hand in welcome. Massasoit gravely lays his hand in the outstretched palm 
of the Governor. 

Governor Carver: {To Samoset) Tell the Chief Massasoit that the 
Governor of the Colony of Plymouth salutes him in the name of King 
James the First of England. And that he desires to make a treaty of 
peace and friendship with bim. 

Samoset repeats this to Massasoit, who replies in a feio guttural 
sounds to him,, at the same time lifting one hand above his head in a 
stately gesture. 

Samoset: {To Governor Carver) The Chief Massasoit say he smoke 
peace-pipe and be friend of English Chief. 

Governor Carver bozus low in acknowledgment and indicates to the 
Chief that they shall both scat themselves upon the settle. When 
they are seated, Governor Carver turns to Master Hoivland, who is 
standing at his side as a sort of aide. 

Governor Carver: Bring the silver cup of strong waters, that we may 
pledge one another in this new compact. 

I Howland goes to the door of the house where Mistress Carver hands him a 
I large loving cup of silver, which he presents to the Governor with a bow. 

27 



Carver slowly raises the cup to his lips and then passes it to Massasoit, who, 
seizing both handles, carries it to his mouth with great dignity and drinks a 
long draught, then hands it to Howland who passes it about among the other 
Indians. These drink, smacking their lips at their first taste of the white 
man's fire water. 

Governor Carver: (To Winshnv) Bring out the gifts which we have 

prepared for the Chief. 

Winslow enters the 'house and returns with a haversack, which he places upon 
the rug before the settle and slowly opening it draws out two knives, which 
he places before the Chief, and then a long copper chain, which he presents 
to Massasoit with a low bow. Massasoit receives it with a grunt of 
acknowledgment. Winslow then produces a long string of beads and a 
wooden bowl filled with glass and wooden beads, which he places with great 
ceremony on the rug beside the knives. Finally he takes a red cape from 
the haversack and approaching the chief with another bow places it upon 
his shoulders. Massasoit rises in acknowledgment. 

Governor Carver: {To Samoset) Say to the Chief Massasoit that the 

Governor of Plymouth presents these gifts to him in token of his 

lasting friendship. 

Samoset translates, and the Chief inclines his head in a stately bow. Then 
producing a long pipe from his belt, he ifills it with tobacco from a small 
pouch made of wampum and passes it to an Indian, who, striking a spark 
with a hit of flint, lights the pipe and returns it to the chief. Massasoit takes 
a few puffs and hands it to Governor Carver, who takes it and hesitates. 

Governor Carver: What doth the Chief wish me to do with this gift? 

Samoset: It is the peace-pipe. White Chief smoke peace-pipe with red 

Chief. The other Englishmen and Indians smoke peace-pipe too! 

'Governor Carver puts the pipe to his lips and after a few puffs passes it 
back to Massasoit, who passes it to Winslow, who smokes it and passes it to 
Samoset. who in turn passes it to the Indian next him and so on to the 
soldiers on the side of the semi-circle. 

As the peace-pipe is being passed, the trumpet, fife, and drum play martial 
music. 

And the curtains are drawn upon the first International Treaty made 
in America. 



28 



EPISODE VI 

The First Thanksgiving 

Prologue. 
The Spirit of the Past: (Before the curtain) 
And now a year in Plymouth Town is past! 
The first corn crop is gathered in at last. 
We've seen them in that first, bleak winter, strong; 
We've watched them speed the Mayflower with a song. 
Now eight small houses stand beside the sea. 
Our fair Priscilla soon a bride will be ! 
So, as farewell to these loved ones we say. 
Behold them on their first Thanksgiving day ! 

She parts the curtains and ivithdraws. 



SCENE: A Clearing in the Forest. 
Governor Bradford etitcrs icith two Pilgrim youths. 
Gov. Bradford : Master Alden and Master Rowland, wilt thou summon 
the people to this place? I have a matter of importance to impart to 
them. 
Alden : We will call them together immediately, Governor Bradford. 

The young men hurry out, and the sounds of a drum are heard. Governor 
Bradford paces up and down as the people begin to gather from all sides, 
forming a group in front of him. When all are present, Captain Standish 
takes his place at one side of the Governor, and Elder Brewster at the other 
side. Governor Bradford raises his hand to still the talking, and speaks. 

Gov. Bradford: It seemeth fit that we should appoint a special day of 
Thansksgiving to be spent in prayer and praise to God for his great 
mercy in bringing us through the past year. 

We should lift up our hearts in thanks that the seed which we have 
planted hath ripened, and we are blessed with a harvest of corn 
which, with care, will ca.vry us through the coming winter. 

We have met with many and great troubles during this first year 
of our sojourn in this new land. The Lord hath seen fit to chasten 
us and thereby strip us of our vain confidence in this arm of flesh, 
and remind us again that we are but pilgrims in this world of sin. 

We have sufifered cold, hunger, and disease. (He pauses and bozvs 
his head.) It hath pleased God to take one half of our number to 
their heavenly home. Their mortal parts lie beneath the corn on 
yonder hill. And yet I am persuaded that our days of affliction will 

29 



soon have an end and that the Lord will abundantly recompense for 
all the sorrow that we have endured. 

Let us then in a more special manner rejoice together and give 
thanks. For as by the goodness of God our crops of corn and of 
barley have prospered, I have invited King Massasoit with his war- 
riors to feast with us for three days. And I have done this with the 
hope that we may lay some good foundation in their heathen hearts 
for receiving and advancing of the gospel of the kingdom of Christ 
in these remote parts of the world, yea that these savages shall be as 
stepping-stones unto others for the performing of so great a work. 

Captain S'tandish, wiilt thou send four men on fowling, that we 
may have ducks, geese, wild turkeys, and venison for the feast? 

Standisii : {Stepping forivard) We will bring in a goodly supply of 
fresh game. Master Alden, Master Howland, Master Goodman, 
Master Hopkins ! I appoint you to go fowling for our feast day of 
Thanksgiving. 

The four men step out before the Captain and salute, then return to 
their places. 

Gov. Bradford: To the women we will leave the duties of preparing the 

feast. 
Priscilla: (Stepping forzcard and courtcsying) May it please you, sir? 
Gov. Bradford : What would'st thou, Mistress Priscilla ? 

Priscilla : Master Alden hath brought me a new kind of meat from the 
sea which the Indians have shown him ! Methinks I remember at 
Leyden it was said they were called oysters ! .Mayhap if they were 
compounded with crumbs and spices they would add a new and 
savory dish to the feast. 

Gov. Bradford: Excellent! Mistress Priscilla, do what thou wilt with 
them. We can trust thy cookery although thou art but a maid. 

Mistress Tillie: (Courtesying) And I can furnish a goodly supply of 
grapes and wild plums ! For John Howland hath shown me the places 
in the forest where they do grow in abundance ! 

Gov. Bradford: Good ! We shall then have fruit as well as meat, Mistress 
Tillie. And now, ere we disperse to our several duties, let us begin 
our preparations for this feast of Thanksgiving with a few verses 
from Holy Writ. (He opens the Bible upon the stump of a felled tree 
which serves as a rough pulpit and reads.) 

I read from the twenty-sixth chapter of the Book of Deuteronomy. 
"And the Lord brought us forth out of Egypt with a mighty hand, 
and with an outstretched arm, and with great terribleness, and with 
signs, and with wonders : 

30 



"And he Iialh I)rought us into this place, and hath given us this 
land, even a land that floweth with milk and honey. 

"And now, behold, I have brought the firstfruits of the land, which 
thou, O Lord, hast given me. And thou shalt set it before the Lord 
thy God, and worship before the Lord thy God:" 

An Indian rushes in and stands before the Governor. 

What brings thee into our meeting in such feverish haste, Tisquan- 
tum? 
TiSQUANTUM : (Rising and, with zvant of breath, pointing toward the 
left) Me come — tell whiite men— ship ! — beyond Manomet ! — Big ship! 
Sailing toward harbor ! 

People : Ship ! A ship ! 

TiSQUANTUM : Like bird in the wind ! Coming fast*! 

Gov. Bradford : But we expect no ship ! It hath not been time for the 

.Mayflower to go and return. What think you it can be, Standish? 
Standish : It may be a privateer coming to harry us ! Every man to arms I 

And repair at once to the fort where we may train our cannon upon 

the vessel as she enters the harbor. 
Alden : (Rushing in) Here is thy glass, Captain! Mayhap thou canst see 

her flag as she rounds Manomet Point ! 
Standish: Thou art ever ready, Alden! (He looks out toward the left 

through the glass as the others strain their eyes for a glimpse of the 

ship.) 
Alden : I see her ! Rounding the point in full sail ! 
Others: Aye, there she comes! 
Gov. Bradford : Canst see her flag, Captain Standish ? 

Standish : Nay. She flies no flag. She looks not like a French ship, or 
a Dutch — 

Alden : About sixty ton weight. 

Standish : She's laying her course straight into the harbor ! I go to open 

the guns! But stay! She's unfurling her flag! (With a shout) 

England ! The red cross of England ! 

I All join in the cry of England ! England ! Tlie men wave their hats, the women 
I weep on one another's shoulders and wave their handkerchiefs. 

Gov. Bradford: (SnatcJung the glass from Standish) I can see her name. 
'Tis the Fortune ! She is bringing our own people to us ! 

Prtscilla: (Embracing Mistress Breivster) Belike thy children are 
aboard ! Fear and Patience coming to thee ! 

Mistress Brewster: (JViping her eyes) Nay, nay! 'Tis too good! It can- 
not be ! 

3J 



Another Pilgrim : And my good wife will be aboard ! And our little son ! 

A Maid : My brother ! He did promise he would come ! 

They all hurry out, waving their handkerchiefs and sobbing and laughing 
in their joy. As the voices die away in the distance, a shaft of sunlight falls 
on the Bible lying upon its rough pulpit in the center of the scene, and at the 
same -moment the Guardian Spirit appears in the center back. Soft music 
is heard as she recites the poem by Felicia Hemans, "Landing of the Pilgrim 
Fathers." At the close of the poem, the Spirit moves slowly toward the 
front of the scene and, standing at one side of the pulpit, speaks again. 

Guardian Spirit : Out of the holy faith and steadfast courage of these 

lives The Spirit of America was born. 

Soft strains of "My Country 'Tis of Thee" are heard, as America, slowly rises 
from behind the pulpit and stands in the shaft of light with her hand upon 
the Bible. 

America: (Turning to the Guardian Spirit) 

O Mother of my Life, 

Spirit of Liberty that gave me birth, 

Here in this wilderness 

Fling wide the curtains of the years to come, 

That I may see the things that are to be ! 
The Guardian Spirit: (Raising her hand in prophecy) 

Lift up your eyes, America ! Behold, 

In future years, a mighty race of men 

Who, casting ofif the bonds of ancient thought, 

Shall crowd a host of Pilgrims to these shores 

To be reborn in righteousness. 

For thou shalt be a nation, 

Built stone on stone by men of every race, 

And on thy shining portals there shall blaze. 

In flaming letters, — 

JUSTICE, LI.BERTY, and BROTHERHOOD ! 

God broke the ancient mold 

And called a nation made of nations into birth. 

Pointing to thee an untried way. 

For unto thee He saith, 

"America ! Thou shalt go forth to serve mankind !" 

Voices are heard singing the first stanza of Katherine Lee Bates' song,' 
"Ajmerica the Beautiful," and twelve Maidens of Light glide in hand in hand, 
and form a circle about The Guardian Spirit and The Spirit of America, as 
they sing — 

O beautiful for spacious skies, 
For amber waves of grain, 



' This hymn may be found in Ilymiwl for American Youth, and in many denomi- 
national hymnals. 

3? 



For purple mountain majesties 

Above the fruited plain ! 
America ! America ! 

God shed His grace on thee 
And crown thy good wiith brotherhood 

From sea to shining sea ! 

During the singing of the second stanaa they circle slowly about the 
tzvo Spirits as they iveave in and out in the "Grand Right and Left" 
movement. 

"O beautiful for Pilgrim feet 
Whose stern, impassioned stress 
A thoroughfare for freedom beat 
Across the wilderness ! 
America ! America ! 
God mend thine every flaw. 
Confirm thy soul in self-control, 
Thy liberty in law !" 

They join hands in a large circle and sing the third stanza. 

"O beautiful for heroes proved 

They move in sloivly tozvard the Spirits, forming a smaller circle. 

In liberating strife, 

Wlio more than self their country loved. 
And mercy more than life ! 
America ! America ! 

They lift their clasped hands high above their heads. 

May God thy gold refine, 
Till all success be nobleness. 

All move out to large circle again. 

And every gain divine !" 

They slozvly circle about the Spirits as they sing the fourth stanza. 

"O beautiful for patriot dream 
That sees beyond the years 
Thine alabaster cities gleam 
Undimmed by human tears ! 
America ! America ! 

They sink upon one knee lifting their arms tozvard America. 

33 



God shed His grace on thee 

And crown thy good with brotherhood 

From sea to shining sea!" 

The Maidens rise and joining hands, pass out as they sing the first stanza 

again. 

America stanJ.s with her hand upon the Bible, looking far out across the 
future years, as the Guardian Spirit of Liberty enfolds her protectingly with 
her arm. 

The Curtains Are Drawn. 



The audience rises and sings the "Pilgrim Anniversary Hymn.'" 

The Mayflower Still Is Sailing (3n 
Tune : Maryton- 

More light shall break from out Thy word 
For Pilgrim followers of the gleam, 

Till, led by thy free spirit, Lord, 

We see and share the Pilgrim dream ! 

What mighty hopes are in our care. 
What holy dreams of Brotherhood 

God of our Fathers, help us dare 

Their passion for the Common Good ! 

Wild roars the blast, the storm is high! 

Above the storm are shining still 
The lights by which we live and die; 

Our peace is ever in Thy will ! 

The ancient stars, the ancient faith. 

Defend us till our voyage is done — 

Across the floods of fear and death 

The Mayflower still is sailing on ! 



' Written by Allen Eastman Cross for the Pilgrim Tercentenary Celebration. 
- Tliis tune may be found in Hymnal for American Youth, and in many denomi- 
national hvmnals. 



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